System, computer product and method for secure electronic mail communication

Abstract

A system, computer product and method for data communication between a first computer and a second computer is provided, wherein data is encrypted and provided in the body of any electronic mail message

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system for data communication on a secure basis between a first computer and at least one other second remote computer comprising: 
 a) an electronic mail means at each of said first computer and second remote computer for data communication therebetween by electronic mail;    b) an encryption means at each of said first computer and second remote computer for encrypting and decrypting data communicated therebetween by said electronic mail means using an encryption key accessible from said encryption means at each of said first computer and second remote computer; and    c) an interface means adapted to permit said encryption means and electronic mail means to interface;    wherein said interface means and encryption means at said first computer are adapted to permit data to be encrypted with said encryption key and provided to said electronic mail means in the body of an electronic mail message;    wherein said electronic mail means is adapted to communicate said electronic mail message to said second remote computer; and    wherein said interface means and encryption means at said second remote computer are adapted to permit said electronic mail message to be decrypted using said encryption key.    
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said electronic mail means at said second remote computer comprises a known electronic mail program and said interface means permits said encryption means at said second remote computer to interface with said electronic mail program so as to decrypt data within said body of said electronic mail message opened using said electronic mail program.  
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said second remote computer further comprises a memory means for storing said encryption key and relating said encryption key to the electronic mail address of said first computer, wherein said encryption means is adapted to retrieve said encryption key corresponding to said first computer from said memory means based on said electronic mail address of said first computer and decrypting said electronic mail message using said encryption key.  
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said electronic mail message further comprises: 
 a) a document; and    b) a data processing command that is adapted to trigger said interface means at said second remote computer to initiate at least one computer program at said second remote computer to process said document in accordance with said data processing command.    
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said data processing command triggers said interface means to initiate a document viewing program to open said document.  
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said electronic mail message received at said remote computer appears scrambled to a user of said second remote computer, until said user engages said encryption means, and said encryption means decrypts said electronic mail message.  
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said first computer and second remote computer each comprises a data compression means for compressing and decompressing data communicated between said first computer and second remote computer.  
     
     
         8 . A system for receiving data on a secure basis at a first computer from a second remote server computer comprising: 
 a) an electronic mail means at said first computer adapted to receive electronic mail messages from said remote server computer;    b) an encryption means at said first computer adapted to decrypt encrypted data using an encryption key accessible from said first computer; and    c) an interface means adapted to permit said encryption means and electronic mail means to interface;    wherein said interface means and encryption means are adapted to permit encrypted data received by said first computer from said second remote server computer in the body of said electronic mail message to be decrypted using said encryption key.    
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said electronic mail means comprises a known electronic mail program and said encryption means is adapted to interface with said electronic mail program so as to decrypt data within said body of said electronic mail message opened using said electronic mail program.  
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first computer further comprises a memory means for storing said encryption key and relating said encryption key to the electronic mail address of said server computer, wherein said encryption means is adapted to retrieve said encryption key corresponding to said server computer from said memory means based on said electronic mail address of said server computer, and decrypting said electronic mail message using said encryption key.  
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said electronic mail message further comprises: 
 a) a document; and    b) a data processing command that is adapted to trigger said interface means to initiate at least one computer program at said first computer to process said document in accordance with said data processing command.    
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said data processing command triggers said interface means to initiate a document viewing program to open said document.  
     
     
         13 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said electronic mail message received at said first computer appears scrambled to a user of said first computer, until said user engages said encryption means, and said encryption means decrypts said electronic mail message.  
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first computer comprises a data compression means for compressing and decompressing data communicated between said first computer and server computer.  
     
     
         15 . A system for delivering data on a secure basis to a plurality of computers comprising: 
 a) a server computer connected to said plurality of computers via an interconnected network of computers;    b) a memory means comprising information regarding each of said plurality of computers, said information including electronic mail addresses corresponding to each of said plurality of computers, data for delivery to each of said plurality of computers, and an encryption key provided to each of said plurality of computers for encrypting data communicated between said server computer and each of said plurality of computers;    c) an electronic mail means to send electronic mail messages comprising said data to said plurality of computer using said electronic mail addresses;    d) an encryption means adapted to encrypt and decrypt data; and    e) an interface means adapted to permit said encryption means and electronic mail means to interface;    wherein said interface means and encryption means are adapted to permit said data to be encrypted in the body of said electronic mail messages, and decrypted from the body of said electronic mail messages;    and said electronic mail means is adapted to send said electronic mail messages to said plurality of computers, and receive electronic mail messages from said plurality of computers.    
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said electronic mail message further comprises: 
 a) a document; and    b) a data processing command that is adapted to trigger each of said plurality of computers to initiate at least one computer program at said plurality of computers to process said document in accordance with said data processing command.    
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said data processing command triggers each of said plurality of computers to initiate a document viewing program to open said document.  
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said data sent to each of said plurality of computers appears scrambled to a user of each of said plurality of computers, until said data is decrypted at each of said plurality of computers.  
     
     
         19 . A system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said server computer comprises a data compression means for compressing and decompressing data communicated between said server computer and said plurality of computers.  
     
     
         20 . A computer product for receiving data on a secure basis at a first computer from a remote server computer comprising: 
 a) a recording means;    b) means recorded on said recording means for providing instructions to said first computer, wherein said first computer is adapted to provide: 
 i) an encryption means adapted to encrypt and decrypt data communicated between said first computer and said remote server computer using an encryption key accessible from said first computer; and  
 ii) an interface means adapted to permit said encryption means to interface with an electronic mail means provided at said first computer for sending and receiving electronic mail messages;  
   wherein said interface means and encryption means are adapted to permit said encrypted data received by said first computer in the body of an electronic mail message received by said electronic mail means to be decrypted using said encryption key.    
     
     
         21 . A computer product for delivering data on a secure basis from a server computer to a plurality of computers, wherein said server computer and plurality of computers are connected via an interconnected network of computers, said computer product comprising: 
 a) a recording medium    b) means recorded on said recording medium for providing instructions to said server computer such that said server computer is adapted to provide: 
 i) a memory means comprising information regarding each of said plurality of computers, said information comprising electronic mail addresses corresponding to each of said plurality of computers, data for delivery to each of said plurality of computers, and an encryption key provided to each of said plurality of computers for encrypting data communicated between said server computer and each of said plurality of computers;  
 ii) an encryption means adapted to encrypt and decrypt data communicated between said server computer and said plurality of computer provided in the body of an electronic mail message; and  
 iii) an interface means adapted to permit said encryption means to interface with an electronic mail means provided at said server computer for sending and receiving electronic mail messages between said server computer and said plurality of computers;  
   wherein said interface means and encryption means are adapted to permit said data to be encrypted in the body of said electronic mail messages.    
     
     
         22 . A method of communicating data on a secure basis from a first computer to a second remote computer, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an electronic mail means at each of said first computer and remote computer for communication of electronic mail therebetween;    b) providing an encryption means at each of said first computer and remote computer for encrypting and decrypting data communicated therebetween by said electronic mail means, using an encryption key accessible from each of said first computer and remote computer;    c) sending an electronic mail message from said first computer to said remote computer by means of said electronic mail means, wherein data is encrypted by said encryption means at said first computer and provided to said remote computer in the body of said electronic mail message;    d) decrypting said data from said body of said electronic mail message by means of said encryption means at said remote computer, using said encryption key.    
     
     
         23 . The method claimed in  claim 22 , comprising the further step of including at said first computer in said encrypted data provided in the body of said electronic mail message a data processing command that is adapted to trigger said remote computer to initiate at least one computer program at said remote computer to process said data in accordance with said data processing command once said encrypted data is decrypted by said encryption means at said remote computer.